Course-finder and course-converter.



c. A. POTTER. COURSE FINDER AND COURSE CONVERTER.

APPLICATION I'ILBT) FEB, 12, 1914. 1,108,517 Patented Aug. 25, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

NVENTR.

ATTORNEY.

Perf /la a 'sv' C. A. POTTER. COURSE FINDER AND COURSE CONVERTER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.12, 191%,

Patented Aug. 25, 71914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

U/IYI/VESSES /N VEN TOR. 673- Paf/ef f Mm@ M7 A TTORNE Y.

CHARLES A. POTTER, OF OSWEGO, NEW YQRK.

COURSE-FINDER AND COURSE-CO NVERTER.

messia.

Specification ef Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 25, 1914.

Application tiled February 12, 1914. Serial No. 818,393.

.To all whom 'it may concern Be it known that l, CHARLES A. POTTER, o. citizen of the United States, residing at Qswego, in the county oif Oswego und State oi" New York, hure invented certain new and useful' -improvements in Course-FindM and Course-Converters,

course to e magnetic course or compass'A course. And e tufther object is te provide means :tor converting beck from e. compass course to :i magnetic or the true course.

lt is u particular object to vprovide n in-v strument by means ci' which a. mnriner may readily, quickly and accurately shape' n ships course on n chart without the necessity of making any calculations or mecsurements, other than :Adjusting andsetting the several indicating parts.

I attain these objects by the ineens described in the annexed speciliczttion, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure l is a diagrammatic plan View ot a lake-chart to which my invention is applied for inding a true sailing course. Fig. is an enlarged plan View of thev course iindergshowing by full and dotted lines the-mnner of adjusting the pointers for indicating` the westerly und easterly variation and also the-deviation, of the compass. Fig. 3 is zr side elevation of the seme. FigL4 is a. central cross section taken on line 4-l of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a View; showing the adjustment of the pointers for converting :i compass course to e true course when the variation and deviation are both westerly.

Fig. 6 is e. similar Viewl showing adjustnient ci? pointers for converting from a coin- `course back to a true course when the Variation is westerly und the deviation is easterly. Fig. 7 is a detail View of one ot' the wus-hers which seperate; the several pointers.

The present invention -resenting the Whole or e part 'ticulurly for use in connection with lake and ocean navigation, course on a chart. The principal instruments used in navigation, are the chart, repof n body water the vessel is navigating; the mariners compass; the sentent, the lead, und the log. So ier as navigation on the Great Lakes is concerned, all of these bodies of unter are non' charted, lund on these charts, as u rule, the principal, sailing courses are n nirked, and in addition to the lines indicating the courses or hearings, .the true geographical directions are also noted, generally with reference to the four vcirrdina-l points of the compass. T he ships courses are usually nmrked on the charts in degrees reading easterly or 'westerly from thc north and south points olf the compass. The most important of the several instruments used my the nmriner is the compass. This in sirument is so well known that nfpztrticulsr description is not deemed necessary here.

T he charts or maps used by the murine*l :ire ull laid out or arranged on geographical lines 'und measurements, and these, except in :i very few instances, very from what is known es the magnetic meridian or line, us determined from the direction the magnetic needle ot the compass points. For this reuson, the compass needle very seldom' points to the true north. The unglethet the mugnetic meridian makes with the geographical or true meridian is called `veri-ation of the magnetic needle, or variation of the compass. Variation is either westerly or ensterly according to the direction the magnetic vneedle is deliected from the true meridian,

and the variation of the compass is different at dill'crent places on the eurths surface. As a rule the amount of Yin'iutign is marked in degrees on the `churts ofthe Great Lakes, and by examining the charts the meriner muy readily escertaiinv the variation for any part of the sailing course.

Another serious difficulty mariners hare to contend with is the disturbing iniuence of the magnetism of the ships duc to the resence of iron und steel, which causesfa deflection of the com :lss needle from .the magnetic meridian. A.his is culled devieticn. Deviation varies on difl'erent shi-psc and it also varies on the same ship when the lutter is heeded in different directions.

The deviation of the steering compass of is :intended pareach ship is generally recorded on a emgq,

which the pilot or master keeps for reference. The deviation (particularly quadrantal) is practically the same in all latitudes, hence the card truly indicates the deflection or error wherever the ship may be.

For the purposevof illustrating the use of my invention, I have selected for, Fignl of the drawing, 'a partial viewof Lake Huron, whichsubstantially follows one cf the regular navigation charts of the said lake. In Fig. 1' the variation .is all westerly, and it will be assumed that the deviation of the compassis also westerly, which means that the compass needleis deflected in both cases to the left 'side of the magnetic north, as shown at A in Fig. 1.

The detailed description ,of my course finder and course converter follows.

In the drawings, 2 represents the direc- Ition bar, which is 'preferably made of metal,

from two to three feet in length. The under side of bar 2 is preferalnly fiat and smooth, while its top side is rabbeted along its opposite edges Sand 4, for providing a broad central longitudinal tongue or rib 5, the marginal edges of which are undercut like a dovetail.

6 represents a brass plate or part, the underside of which has a dovetail groove 7 which receives the tongue 5 of bar 2., upon which said plate is slidable, and 8 represents a. handle-bar for manipulating 'the plate 6, one end of the handle 8 being se- 'cured to the plate 6, ,while the other end is fitted with a knob 9.'

10 represents a post orstandard which is mounted upon the topside of plate 6 near one side at right angles to saidplate to which -it may be rigidly' secured, in any suitable manner, the upper or free and 11 ofsaid post being threaded. The post 10 is mounted on the plate 6 in such manner that its axis coincides exactly with the corresponding edge (either 3 or 4 as the case may be) of the direction bar 2.

12 represents a facsimile of the usual compass dial, such as is carried by the regular mariners compass, which is usedfby the hchnsman for steering a ship. The dial 12 is perforated centrally to receive the post 10, upon which it, may be revolved for setting in dii'ferent positions relatively to the edges 3 and 4 of the bar 2. The'dial is held sub'n stantially free from the top, side of ,the plate 6 by a thin washer 13.'V

111 represents a washer pierced by the post 10 which. lies upon the dial 12.

-15 and `16 represent similar pointers or needles, which extend in opposite directions diametrically a 'd arer preferably integral with a-collar 1y which is applied concentrically to the 'p'ost 10 just above the Washer 14. The pointers 15 and 16 are fixed to the post 10 by a setscrew and they also coincide with the edge 3 of the bar 2, when the course, and the true course. sailing where there 1s neither variation nor i device is assembled, as shown by full lines in F 1g. 1, and as shown in Fig. 2. The dotted lines in Fig. 1 show the fixed pointers 15 and'- 16 in coincidence with the 'edge 4 of the bar 2, as when the plate 5 is applied to the bar 2 in the reverse order, as compared with Fig. 2. The pointers 15 and 16 are marked withthe letters T. C. indieating true course.

18 represents a single pointer, also markedfM. C. indicating magnetic course, l

one ,end of which is secured to or isintegral with almurled collar 19 which is journaled on the post 10 above the collar 17, and 'from Iwhich it is separated by a washer 20. The pointer 1S is rotatable and may be set to indicate any point crdegree on the dial relatively to the fixed pointers 15 and 16, for indicating the variation of the mag-V netic needle of the compass from the true meridian or course.

21 represents a second single pointer,

which is preferably an integral part of a knurled collar or nut 227 also jonrnaled on post4 lO, and separated from collar 19 bv a' washer 23, the pointer 21 is ymarked C. C. to indicate compass course. The .several pointers and washers are held in place one the post 10, and are also subjected to suitable tension by a nut 24C, which is screwed on' to the threaded' upper-end of the post 10, the said nut being separated from the collar 22 b'y a washer 25. The washers 14,l

2O and 25 are held from rota-tion by means of tongues 26, which engage a. longitudinal groove 27 in the post 10'. By this arrange-- ment either of the pointers 18 and 21 may be freely rotated without disturbing the other. And the dial 12 may also be rotated on the post l() independently of all of the pointers. Y

In navigation, there are three kinds of courses: the Icompass course, the magnetic If a ship is deviation, the true course is identical with the compass course. In order to sail a vessel over the shortest course between two points, it is necessary first to"correct the truc course for variation and deviation inv order .to find the compass course.

The operation of my course finder 'is as follows: Referring to Fig. 1, the ship B having left Port Huron,- at the southern end of4 the lake, is headed due north, and is nearing the point C opposite Port Sanilac' brought to the point E, which is opposite Thunder Bay light, where the true courseagain changes. '.lhe course D leans toward the west in a substantially straight line, the

ist

markings of which may be taken as N by pass disk l2 along the bar 2 until the north and south, or the east and West points on the dial coincide with either a meridian er a latitude parallel, as the course required may indicate. )Wien the bar 2 is brought to the course-line D, the fixed pointers 15--16, which always coincide with the edge of the bar, will also point to and coincide With said true course. In. the present illustration, the east and west points of the dial are placed on the parallel 44, which brings the north point or zero on the dial about'18 to the right of edge 3 of the direction bar 2. After the dial 12 has been set as described, the next step is to set the pointer 1S (magnetic pointer) to indicate the variation of the magnetic needle of the ships compass for the latitude the vessel is sailing in, which according to the facsimile diai A (Fig. 1) shows 5 Westerly variation. The magnetic pointer 18 is then swung around, by grasping the knurled collar 17, until its point indicates 5 easterly, or to the right, of the pointer 15. Thisy will correct the magnetic variation, and. indicate the magnetic course. The next step is to' set the top pointer 21 for indicating the deviation of the ships compass due to the presence of iron or steel in the hull. As explained, the deviation of one ship as compared with another varies, and also that the deviation of each ship varies according to which direction it is headed. It will be lassumed that thedeviation of the ship B when pointing northernly is 5 westerly. The pilot or mariner then swings the pointer 21 (C. C.) around until its point indicates 5 easterly or to the right of the pointer 18, this will then be the steering o r compass course, which is ap roximatcly 10 easterly ofthe truc course with which the edge 3 of bar 2, and the stationary pointers 15 and '16 coincide. point C, the pilot will swing its head around until it points substantially north i west in agreement with the needle of the steering compass. By keeping the s'hips head on the compass course indicated bythe pointer 21, (see dotted lines B Fig. 1), the ship in sailing to the' point E will traverse the shortest course. The dotted lines in Fig. l., illustrate the use of the course inder when sailing substantially in the opposite direction.

ln Fig. 2 is shown the course finder on an enlarged scale, in which pointers 18 and 21 are set 10 apart for clearness. In this. view the variation and deviation are both the same'7 and the pointers are set in accordance with the instructions printed 'on the dial 12 for indicating westerlyfvariation as well as westerly deviation. The dotted lines in Fig. 2 show `the manner When the ship B arrives at the the movable i The next step is to slide the comeasterly variation and the westerly deviation. The

18 and 21 to indicate deviation.

It sometimes happens that a vessel has been sailing on an unmarked course and it is 'desired to ascertain what both the mag netic and true course may be. To convert from compass course to either magnetic or true course, the direction bar 2 is placed so that 'the fixed pointers'15-16 and the corresponding edge (3 or 4) of said har of setting the pointers coincide with the compass course, which for example, according to Fig. 5, is north or zero. Let it be assumed that 'the variation and'deviation are each Westerly10o corresponding to Fig. 2. The next step is to swing4 the pointer 1S (M. C.) to the left of `the pointer 15 until it points to 10"for cor recting for the deviation of the steering compass. This gives the magnetic variation of course. The next step is to swing the pointer 21 to the left until it points to 20, which adds the variation of 10 Westerly to pointer 21 will then be pointing to, or indicate the true course7 vvhich is about N, by WV. West.

To convert' from the compass course to the magnetic or true course when the deviation is easterly and the variation is Westerly; Fig. 6 illustrates the operation which is as follows: The fixed pointers 15 and 16 are set 'to point, for example due north and south,

15 to zero on the dial 12, which is. assumed to be the .compass course. The deviation of the ships compass is, say, 20 easterly, the pointer 18 (M. C.) is next swung around to the right until it points to 2Oo east of north. This indicates the magnetic course, N. 20 east. The `Variation being 10 Westerly, the pointer 21 (C. C.) is next swung around to the left of the pointer 18 until it points to N. 110 east. This gives the true course, which is about north gr east, or nearly north by east.

'In case a chart is vnot marked. for indicating the true course, the mariner can shape the ships course, or compass course, by applying the direction bar 2 tothe points of departure and destination, and then manipulate the pointers 18 and 21 for correcting the variation and deviation.

It will be understood from the foregoingthat an -unskilled mariner by using my which brings pointer I course finder land course converter, may

readily shape the course of his ship by applying the device to the true course of a chart as shown in F ig. 1, andthen, following the simple directions Which are printed on the face of the dial 12 l(sec Fig. 2). He may also readily convert back rom a coinpass course to a true course, or to a magnetic course, by applying and operating the device, as herein shown and described. In this Way the various courses may be found,shaped or converted with substantial accuracy an the results may be obtained in a few minutes time. y

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters`Patent,isy l. A course iinder, including adirectionbar, Aa plate slida'ble' on said bar, said plate having a-grooveto., receive the bar and hav.- ing a post, a compass dial rotatable on said post above said Iplate, fixed pointers moiintcdzon said post above said dial and coinciding with oneledge of said, bar, and a plurality of movableupointers"journaled on said post above the lined pointers adapted to be set in dijlvierentcvposit'ions relatively to the-fixed pointers and also to eachother.

2. A course finder; comprising a directionbar., 'a plate slidablepn said bar, said plate havinga groove to receive saidbar and havinga post, a compass dial rotatable on saidpost, lined pointers supported by said post above said dial, and a plurality of movable pointers jonrnaled on said post above said' iixed pointers, adapted to be set relativelyI to the edges of said bar and also to each other. 3. A coursefinder, including a directionbar a plate siidable on said fbar, said plate having a groove to receive said bar, 'and have' ing va post Whose axis coincides With` one edge of said bar, a compass dial rotatable on said post and movable with said platefixed xpointers secured to said post above said dial and coinciding With said edge of'said bar, and a plurality of movable pointers pivoted on said post above the dial, adapted to be independently set for indicating different courses than said fixed pointers.`

4L.' A course finder, including a directionbar, a compass dial, a grooved plate slidable on said bar and` having a post for. pivotally supporting said dial, fixed pointers carried by said plate above said dial andmcoinciding with one edge thereof for indicating the true course on said dial, a movable pointer lpivoted on said post above the fixed pointers adjustable for indicating the 'magnetic course,

and a second' movable pointer pivoted on said post .above said first movable pointer adj ustablefor indicating the compass course.

5. A course finder and a course converter, including a'direction-bar, adapted to be applied to a sailing co-uisefon a chart, a platemossi? a movable pointer adaptedto' be manipulated ioi' indicating the deviation of a ships.

compass.

6. A course finder and course converter, comprising a direction-bar capable of being applied to a true course on a chart, a pair of loppositely arranged fixed pointers adapted to coincide with the true course, a support for said pointers, said support slidable on said bar and having a post Whose coincides 'with the edge of said bar, a compass .dial mounted concentrically on said post points ofsaid pointers, movable pointers )ivoted on said support adapted to be independently rotated and set in different positions relatively to said bar and said fixed pointers for indicating the variation and deviation of a ships compass.

8. A course linder anda converter, including a direction bar, adapted to be applied to a true course on a chartya plate slidable on said bar, said plate having a post Whose axis coincides with one edge of said bar, a coinpass dial pivoted on said post, said dial rotatable for bringing its several diametric lines into coincidence with the edge of said bar, fixed pointers secured to said post above said dial. adapted to point to .the opposed graduations of said dial7 and also to coincide With the edge oi said bar, a movable pointer pivoted on said ,post adapted .to be set in different positions relatively te said fixed pointers for indicating the magnetic course, a movable pointer pivoted to said post adapted to`be set in different positions relatively to saidiii'st movable pointer for indicating the compass course, and means forholding all of said movable parts in adjusted position.

' In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES a. POTTER. Witnesses: CHARLES F. HAGER, C. A. BENTLEY.

Copies of this patent may 'ne obtained for fe cents each, by addressingtlie Commissioner of Patents Washington, D. C. 

